Hmm...the name, the name.... I have thought about this issue many times and I think I’m finally ready to say something about it. I expect to get some harsh responses, but hopefully it’s not because you think I’m being harsh; I am merely intending to have a conversation with you. Pretend there is coffee.
Rivendell has fans of both the male and female variety. Clearly, I’m in the latter group, so that is from where my perspective is coming to you. Over the years I’ve heard plenty of comments like “Oh, I love that bike except that it’s a mixte.” Or “I don’t know if I’m man enough to ride the Cheviot/Betty.” Once someone told me that he wouldn’t ever consider a mixte frame (due to its feminine connotation and nothing else) until he was old and feeble, and EVEN THEN, he’d still try to avoid it in favor of a diamond frame. Grant obliterated the name Clementine in favor of Clem Smith, Jr so as to take gender out of it, but really, just the feminine name was eliminated and a masculine replaced it. That one hurt. The new Hillibikes are being offered with two names, one feminine, and it seems like some consider that a knock against the bike. To say you can’t live with Susie Longbolts (sp) but Gus Boots Willsen is great seems unlikely. They are both goofy names. 2 issues: 1. Why does it seem feminine names are polarizing? What is it about a mixte or step-through that a man might see as threatening to their masculinity? Is femininity seen as derogatory? Weak? Shameful? What? 2. Why are women expected to ride bikes with male names and not be offended? A man can’t ride a bike with the name Clementine because it doesn’t represent him, but a women is expected to ride her Joe Appaloosa, or her Clem Smith Jr without complaint. Leah -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/ab214447-e813-41b9-81cf-14a4f0148b03%40googlegroups.com.
